.In the wild, males seldom live longer than ten years, as injuries sustained from continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity.^He has changed a lot from the six month old wild kitty that came to live with me two years ago.

[5] They typically inhabit savanna and grassland, although they may take to bush and forest. Lions are unusually social compared to other cats. A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small number of adult males. Groups of female lions typically hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. Lions are apex and keystone predators, although they will scavenge if the opportunity arises. While lions do not typically hunt humans selectively, some have been known to become man-eaters and seek human prey.

The lion is a vulnerable species, having seen a possibly irreversible population decline of 30 to 50 percent over the past two decades in its African range.[6] Lion populations are untenable outside of designated reserves and national parks. Although the cause of the decline is not fully understood, habitat loss and conflicts with humans are currently the greatest causes of concern. Lions have been kept in menageries since Roman times and have been a key species sought for exhibition in zoos the world over since the late eighteenth century. Zoos are cooperating worldwide in breeding programs for the endangered Asiatic subspecies.

Visually, the male lion is highly distinctive and is easily recognized by its mane. The lion, particularly the face of the male, is one of the most widely recognized animal symbols in human culture. Depictions have existed from the Upper Paleolithic period, with carvings and paintings from the Lascaux and Chauvet Caves, through virtually all ancient and medieval cultures where they historically occurred. It has been extensively depicted in literature, in sculptures, in paintings, on national flags, and in contemporary films and literature.

Etymology

The lion's name, similar in many Romance languages, derives from the Latinleo;[7] cf. the Ancient Greekλέων (leon).[8] The Hebrew word לָבִיא (lavi) may also be related,[9] as well as the Ancient Egyptianrw.[10] It was one of the many species originally described, as Felis leo, by Linnaeus in his eighteenth century work, Systema Naturae.[3] The generic component of its scientific designation, Panthera leo, often is presumed to derive from Greek pan- ("all") and ther ("beast"), but this may be a folk etymology. Although it came into English through the classical languages, it shows a striking resemblance to Sanskritpundarikam "tiger," which in turn may come from pandarah "whitish-yellow".[11]

Taxonomy and evolution

.The oldest lion-like fossil is known from Laetoli in Tanzania and is perhaps 3.5 million years old; some scientists have identified the material as Panthera leo.^Cowkitty is 6 years old, and on her right side, there are patches of black, that look like a Mickey Mouse Head.

These records are not well-substantiated, and all that can be said is that they pertain to a Panthera-like felid. The oldest confirmed records of Panthera leo in Africa are about 2 million years younger.[12] The closest relatives of the lion are the other Panthera species: the tiger, the jaguar, and the leopard. Morphological and genetic studies reveal that the tiger was the first of these recent species to diverge. About 1.9 million years ago the jaguar branched off the remaining group, which contained ancestors of the leopard and lion. The lion and leopard subsequently separated about 1 to 1.25 million years ago from each other.[13]

Panthera leo itself evolved in Africa between 1 million and 800,000 years ago, before spreading throughout the Holarctic region.[14] It appeared in Europe for the first time 700,000 years ago with the subspecies Panthera leo fossilis at Isernia in Italy. From this lion derived the later Cave Lion (Panthera leo spelaea), which appeared about 300,000 years ago. During the upper Pleistocene the lion spread to North and South America, and developed into Panthera leo atrox, the American Lion.[15].Lions died out in northern Eurasia and America at the end of the last glaciation, about 10,000 years ago;[16] this may have been secondary to the extinction of Pleistocene megafauna.^By http://www.engaged.tv/xigvrh/423.php?p=201 on November 16, 2009 at 10:11 am for children about food groups… .

Subspecies

African (above) and Asiatic (below) lions, as illustrated in Johnsons Book of Nature

Traditionally, twelve recent subspecies of lion were recognized, the largest of which has been recognized as the Barbary Lion.[18] The major differences separating these subspecies are location, mane appearance, size, and distribution. .Because these characteristics are very insignificant and show a high individual variability, most of these forms were debatable and probably invalid; additionally, they often were based upon zoo material of unknown origin that may have had "striking, but abnormal" morphological characteristics.^They are show cats and they do very well.

[19] Today only eight subspecies usually are accepted,[16][20] but one of these (the Cape Lion formerly described as Panthera leo melanochaita) probably is invalid.[20] Even the remaining seven subspecies might be too many; mitochondrial variation in recent African lions is modest, which suggests that all sub-Saharan lions could be considered a single subspecies, possibly divided in two main clades: one to the west of the Great Rift Valley and the other to the east. Lions from Tsavo in Eastern Kenya are much closer genetically to lions in Transvaal (South Africa), than to those in the Aberdare Range in Western Kenya.[21][22]

P. l. leo, known as the Barbary Lion, is extinct in the wild due to excessive hunting, although captive individuals may still exist. .This was one of the largest of the lion subspecies, with reported lengths of 3–3.3 metres (10–10.8 ft) and weights of more than 200 kilograms (440 lb) for males.^Multiple Animal Pics published by karmafotos More Than One of the dogs, cats, etc...

P. l. krugeri, known as the Southeast African Lion or Transvaal Lion, is found in the Transvaal region of southeastern Africa, including Kruger National Park.

P. l. melanochaita, known as the Cape Lion, became extinct in the wild around 1860. Results of mitochondrial DNA research do not support the status as a distinct subspecies. It seems probable that the Cape lion was only the southernmost population of the extant P. l. krugeri.[20]

Prehistoric

Several additional subspecies of lion existed in prehistoric times:

P. l. atrox, known as the American Lion or American cave lion, was abundant in the Americas from Alaska to Peru in the Pleistocene Epoch until about 10,000 years ago. This form as well as the cave lion sometimes are considered to represent separate species, but recent phylogenetic studies suggest that they are in fact, subspecies of the lion (Panthera leo).[16] One of the largest lion subspecies to have existed, its body length is estimated to have been 1.6–2.5 m (5–8 ft).[25]

P. l. spelaea, known as the European cave lion, Eurasian cave lion, or Upper Pleistocene European cave lion, occurred in Eurasia 300,000 to 10,000 years ago.[16].This species is known from Paleolithiccave paintings (such as the one displayed to the right), ivory carvings, and clay busts,[27] indicating it had protruding ears, tufted tails, perhaps faint tiger-like stripes, and that at least some males had a ruff or primitive mane around their necks.^My 80 LB Malamute was carrying one of the little girls (Gracie) around the yard by the neck!

[28] With this example being a hunting scene it is likely that it depicts females hunting for the pride using the same strategy as their contemporary relatives and males may not be part of the subject.

P. l. youngi or Panthera youngi, flourished 350,000 years ago.[31] Its relationship to the extant lion subspecies is obscure, and it probably represents a distinct species.

P. l. maculatus, known as the Marozi or Spotted lion, sometimes is believed to be a distinct subspecies, but may be an adult lion that has retained its juvenile spotted pattern. If it was a subspecies in its own right, rather than a small number of aberrantly colored individuals, it has been extinct since 1931. A less likely identity is a natural leopard-lion hybrid commonly known as a leopon.[32]

Hybrids

Lions have been known to breed with tigers (most often the Siberian and Bengal subspecies) to create hybrids called ligers and tigons.[33] They also have been crossed with leopards to produce leopons,[34] and jaguars to produce jaglions. The marozi is reputedly a spotted lion or a naturally occurring leopon, while the Congolese Spotted Lion is a complex lion-jaguar-leopard hybrid called a lijagulep. Such hybrids once commonly were bred in zoos, but this is now discouraged due to the emphasis on conserving species and subspecies. Hybrids are still bred in private menageries and in zoos in China.

The liger is a cross between a male lion and a tigress.[35] Because the growth-inhibiting gene from the female tiger is absent, a growth-promoting gene is passed on by the male lion, the resulting ligers grow far larger than either parent. .They share physical and behavioural qualities of both parent species (spots and stripes on a sandy background).^I just thought they were cute and wanted to share them, but the higher quality pictures are in the album CATS CATS CATS. Do not copy these pictures for personal gain or without permission.

Male ligers are sterile, but female ligers are often fertile. Males have about a 50 percent chance of having a mane, but if they grow one, their manes will be modest: around 50 percent of a pure lion mane. Ligers are typically between 3.0 and 3.7 m (10 to 12 feet) in length, and can be between 360 and 450 kg (800 to 1,000 pounds) or more.[35] The less common tigon is a cross between the lioness and the male tiger.[36]

Physical characteristics

The lion is the tallest (at the shoulder) of the felines, and also is the second-heaviest feline after the tiger. With powerful legs, a strong jaw, and 8 cm (3.1 in) long canine teeth, the lion can bring down and kill large prey.[37] The skull of the lion is very similar to that of the tiger, though the frontal region is usually more depressed and flattened, with a slightly shorter postorbital region. The lion's skull has broader nasal openings than the tiger. However, due to the amount of skull variation in the two species, usually, only the structure of the lower jaw can be used as a reliable indicator of species.[38] Lion coloration varies from light buff to yellowish, reddish, or dark ochraceous brown. The underparts are generally lighter and the tail tuft is black. Lion cubs are born with brown rosettes (spots) on their body, rather like those of a leopard. Although these fade as lions reach adulthood, faint spots often may still be seen on the legs and underparts, particularly on lionesses.

.Lions are the only members of the cat family to display obvious sexual dimorphism—that is, males and females look distinctly different.^My Cats published by JollieJoker A collection of my cat pictures Champion, Chenoa of ManoWar published by jensmore My latest family member, born 12//17/06...

^Brown spotted tabby and white scottish fold female(Sold) published by yatfung_cattery My cats published by karinjul Some pictures of my beloved cats Moocher published by hicount Our youngest member of the family.

They also have specialized roles that each gender plays in the pride. For instance, the lioness, the hunter, lacks the male's thick cumbersome mane. It seems to impede the male's ability to be camouflaged when stalking the prey and create overheating in chases. The color of the male's mane varies from blond to black, generally becoming darker as the lion grows older.

During confrontations with others, the mane makes the lion look larger

Weights for adult lions range between 150–250 kg (330–550 lb) for males and 120–182 kg (264–400 lb) for females.[4] Nowell and Jackson report average weights of 181 kg for males and 126 kg for females; one male shot near Mount Kenya was weighed at 272 kg (600 lb).[24] Lions tend to vary in size depending on their environment and area, resulting in a wide spread in recorded weights. For instance, lions in southern Africa tend to be about 5 percent heavier than those in East Africa, in general.[39]

Head and body length is 170–250 cm (5 ft 7 in – 8 ft 2 in) in males and 140–175 cm (4 ft 7 in – 5 ft 9 in) in females; shoulder height is about 123 cm (4 ft) in males and 107 cm (3 ft 6 in) in females. The tail length is 90–105 cm (2 ft 11 in - 3 ft 5 in) in males and 70–100 cm in females (2 ft 4 in – 3 ft 3 in).[4] The longest known lion was a black-maned male shot near Mucsso, southern Angola in October 1973; the heaviest known lion was a man-eater shot in 1936 just outside Hectorspruit in eastern Transvaal, South Africa and weighed 313 kg (690 lb).[40] Lions in captivity tend to be larger than lions in the wild—the heaviest lion on record is a male at Colchester Zoo in England named Simba in 1970, which weighed 375 kg (826 lb).[41]

The most distinctive characteristic shared by both females and males is that the tail ends in a hairy tuft. In some lions, the tuft conceals a hard "spine" or "spur", approximately 5 mm long, formed of the final sections of tail bone fused together. The lion is the only felid to have a tufted tail—the function of the tuft and spine are unknown. Absent at birth, the tuft develops around 5½ months of age and is readily identifiable at 7 months.[42]

Mane

.The mane of the adult male lion, unique among cats, is one of the most distinctive characteristics of the species.^Normagikatt Normagikatt published by Normagikatt Norwegian Forest Cats My Gorgeous Male Cat Dotty Donatello published by amberwayne52 I have several cats, but Dotty is the most photogenic and also I am very close to him.

It makes the lion appear larger, providing an excellent intimidation display; this aids the lion during confrontations with other lions and with the species' chief competitor in Africa, the spotted hyena.[43] The presence, absence, color, and size of the mane is associated with genetic precondition, sexual maturity, climate, and testosterone production; the rule of thumb is the darker and fuller the mane, the healthier the lion. Sexual selection of mates by lionesses favors males with the densest, darkest mane.[44] Research in Tanzania also suggests mane length signals fighting success in male-male relationships. .Darker-maned individuals may have longer reproductive lives and higher offspring survival, although they suffer in the hottest months of the year.^He has changed a lot from the six month old wild kitty that came to live with me two years ago.

Scientists once believed that the distinct status of some subspecies could be justified by morphology, including the size of the mane. Morphology was used to identify subspecies such as the Barbary Lion and Cape Lion. Research has suggested, however, that environmental factors influence the color and size of a lion's mane, such as the ambient temperature.[45] The cooler ambient temperature in European and North American zoos, for example, may result in a heavier mane. Thus the mane is not an appropriate marker for identifying subspecies.[20][46] The males of the Asiatic subspecies, however, are characterized by sparser manes than average African lions.[47]

Maneless male lions have been reported in Senegal and Tsavo East National Park in Kenya, and the original male white lion from Timbavati also was maneless. Castrated lions have minimal manes. The lack of a mane sometimes is found in inbred lion populations; inbreeding also results in poor fertility.[48]

Lioness showing the ruff that sometimes leads to misidentification as a male

Many lionesses have a ruff that may be apparent in certain poses. Sometimes it is indicated in sculptures and drawings, especially ancient artwork, and is misinterpreted as a male mane. It differs from a mane, however, in being at the jaw line below the ears, of much less hair length, and frequently not noticeable, whereas a mane extends above the ears of males, often obscuring their outline entirely.

.Cave paintings of extinct European Cave Lions exclusively show animals with no mane, or just the hint of a mane, suggesting that they were maneless;[28].^They say no tricks, just treats please.....

White lions

White lions owe their coloring to a recessive gene; they are rare forms of the subspecies Panthera leo krugeri

The white lion is not a distinct subspecies, but a special morph with a genetic condition, leucism,[19] that causes paler colouration akin to that of the white tiger; the condition is similar to melanism, which causes black panthers. They are not albinos, having normal pigmentation in the eyes and skin. White Transvaal lion (Panthera leo krugeri) individuals occasionally have been encountered in and around Kruger National Park and the adjacent Timbavati Private Game Reserve in eastern South Africa, but are more commonly found in captivity, where breeders deliberately select them. The unusual cream color of their coats is due to a recessive gene.[49] Reportedly, they have been bred in camps in South Africa for use as trophies to be killed during canned hunts.[50]

Confirmation of the existence of white lions only came in the late twentieth century. For hundreds of years prior, the white lion had been thought to be a figment of legend circulating in South Africa, the white pelage of the animal said to represent the goodness in all creatures. Sightings were first reported in the early 1900s, and continued, infrequently, for almost fifty years until, in 1975, a litter of white lion cubs was found at Timbavati Game Reserve.[51]

Biology and behavior

Lions spend much of their time resting and are inactive for about 20 hours per day.[52] Although lions can be active at any time, their activity generally peaks after dusk with a period of socializing, grooming, and defecating. Intermittent bursts of activity follow through the night hours until dawn, when hunting most often takes place. They spend an average of two hours a day walking and 50 minutes eating.[53]

Group organization

Mature male pride leader With two lionesses, northern Serengeti.

A pride spotted along the road in the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya.

Lions are predatory carnivores who manifest two types of social organization. Some are residents, living in groups, called prides.[54].The pride usually consists of approximately five or six related females, their cubs of both sexes, and one or two males (known as a coalition if more than one) who mate with the adult females (although extremely large prides, consisting of up to 30 individuals, have been observed).^One red head male and 2 black and white females.

The number of adult males in a coalition is usually two, but may increase to four and decrease again over time. Male cubs are excluded from their maternal pride when they reach maturity.

The second organizational behaviour is labeled nomads, who range widely and move about sporadically, either singularly or in pairs.[54] Pairs are more frequent among related males who have been excluded from their birth pride. Note that a lion may switch lifestyles; nomads may become residents and vice versa. Males have to go through this lifestyle and some never are able to join another pride. .A female who becomes a nomad has much greater difficulty joining a new pride, as the females in a pride are related, and they reject most attempts by an unrelated female to join their family group.^He claimes that he really is a little tiger, and I believe him...Now a new member joined the family, Tip-Tip, a mini Panda-bear, he's a very fanny little thing.

The area a pride occupies is called a pride area, whereas that by a nomad is a range.[54] The males associated with a pride tend to stay on the fringes, patrolling their territory. Why sociality—the most pronounced in any cat species—has developed in lionesses is the subject of much debate. Increased hunting success appears an obvious reason, but this is less than sure upon examination: coordinated hunting does allow for more successful predation, but also ensures that non-hunting members reduce per capita caloric intake, however, some take a role raising cubs, who may be left alone for extended periods of time. Members of the pride regularly tend to play the same role in hunts. The health of the hunters is the primary need for the survival of the pride and they are the first to consume the prey at the site it is taken. Other benefits include possible kin selection (better to share food with a related lion than with a stranger), protection of the young, maintenance of territory, and individual insurance against injury and hunger.[24]

Lioness in a burst of speed while hunting in the Serengeti

Lionesses do the majority of the hunting for their pride, being smaller, swifter and more agile than the males, and unencumbered by the heavy and conspicuous mane, which causes overheating during exertion. They act as a co-ordinated group in order to stalk and bring down the prey successfully. However, if nearby the hunt, males have a tendency to dominate the kill once the lionesses have succeeded and eaten. .They are more likely to share with the cubs than with the lionesses, but rarely share food they have killed by themselves.^She is a stubby Manx and more like a dog than a cat.

Smaller prey is eaten at the location of the hunt, thereby being shared among the hunters; when the kill is larger it often is dragged to the pride area. There is more sharing of larger kills,[55] although pride members often behave aggressively toward each other as each tries to consume as much food as possible.

Both males and females defend the pride against intruders. Some individual lions consistently lead the defense against intruders, while others lag behind.[56] Lions tend to assume specific roles in the pride. Those lagging behind may provide other valuable services to the group.[57] An alternative hypothesis is that there is some reward associated with being a leader who fends off intruders and the rank of lionesses in the pride is reflected in these responses.[58] The male or males associated with the pride must defend their relationship to the pride from outside males who attempt to take over their relationship with the pride. Females form the stable social unit in a pride and do not tolerate outside females;[59] membership only changes with the births and deaths of lionesses,[60] although some females do leave and become nomadic.[61] Subadult males on the other hand, must leave the pride when they reach maturity at around 2–3 years of age.[61]

Hunting and diet

While a lioness such as this one has very sharp teeth, prey is usually killed by strangulation

Lions are powerful animals that usually hunt in coordinated groups and stalk their chosen prey. However, they are not particularly known for their stamina - for instance, a lioness' heart makes up only 0.57 percent of her body weight (a male's is about 0.45 percent of his body weight), whereas a hyena's heart is close to 1 percent of its body weight.[60] Thus, although lionesses can reach speeds of 81 km/h (50 mph),[62] they only can do so for short bursts[63] so they have to be close to their prey before starting the attack. They take advantage of factors that reduce visibility; many kills take place near some form of cover or at night.[64] They sneak up to the victim until they reach a distance of approximately 30 metres (98 ft) or less. Typically, several lionesses work together and encircle the herd from different points. Once they have closed with a herd, they usually target the closest prey. The attack is short and powerful; they attempt to catch the victim with a fast rush and final leap. The prey usually is killed by strangulation,[65] which can cause cerebral ischemia or asphyxia (which results in hypoxemic, or "general," hypoxia). The prey also may be killed by the lion enclosing the animal's mouth and nostrils in its jaws[4] (which would also result in asphyxia). Smaller prey, though, may simply be killed by a swipe of a lion's paw.[4]

A pride of lions working together to bring down a buffalo in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

Four lions take down a cape buffalo in the central Serengeti, Tanzania

Lions at the Savuti river are well known for their relatively frequent predation on elephants

The prey consists mainly of large mammals, with a preference for wildebeest, impalas, zebras, buffalo, and warthogs in Africa and nilgai, wild boar, and several deer species in India. Many other species are hunted, based on availability. Mainly this will include ungulates weighing between 50 and 300 kg (110–660 lb) such as kudu, hartebeest, gemsbok, and eland.[4] Occasionally, they take relatively small species such as Thomson's Gazelle or springbok. .Lions hunting in groups are capable of taking down most animals, even healthy adults, but in most parts of their range they rarely attack very large prey such as fully grown male giraffes due to the danger of injury.^They look oriental and are often very friendly and trustful, even if they live in the streets.

Extensive statistics collected over various studies show that lions normally feed on mammals in the range 190–550 kg (420–1210 lb). In Africa, wildebeest rank at the top of preferred prey (making nearly half of the lion prey in the Serengeti) followed by zebra.[66] Most adult hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, elephants, and smaller gazelles, impala, and other agile antelopes are generally excluded. However giraffes and buffalos are often taken in certain regions. For instance, in Kruger National Park, giraffes are regularly hunted.[67] In Manyara Park, Cape buffaloes constitute as much as 62% of the lion's diet,[68] due to the high number density of buffaloes. Occasionally hippopotamus is also taken, but adult rhinoceroses are generally avoided. Even though smaller than 190 kg (420 lb), warthogs are often taken depending on availability.[69] In some areas, they specialise in hunting atypical prey species; this is the case at the Savuti river, where they prey on elephants.[70] Park guides in the area reported that the lions, driven by extreme hunger, started taking down baby elephants, and then moved on to adolescents and, occasionally, fully grown adults during the night when elephants' vision is poor.[71] Lions also attack domestic livestock; in India cattle contribute significantly to their diet.[47] They are capable of killing other predators such as leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs, though (unlike most felids) they seldom devour the competitors after killing them. They also scavenge animals either dead from natural causes (disease) or killed by other predators, and keep a constant lookout for circling vultures, being keenly aware that they indicate an animal dead or in distress.[72].A lion may gorge itself and eat up to 30 kg (66 lb) in one sitting;[73] if it is unable to consume all the kill it will rest for a few hours before consuming more.^Actually Vladimir is trying to save the world and kill all the invaders before they spread all over the world.

On a hot day, the pride may retreat to shade leaving a male or two to stand guard.[74] An adult lioness requires an average of about 5 kg (11 lb) of meat per day, a male about 7 kg (15.4 lb).[75]

The hunters of a pride sharing a zebra where the kill occurred

Because lionesses hunt in open spaces where they are easily seen by their prey, cooperative hunting increases the likelihood of a successful hunt; this is especially true with larger species. Teamwork also enables them to defend their kills more easily against other large predators such as hyenas, which may be attracted by vultures from kilometers away in open savannas. Lionesses do most of the hunting; males attached to prides do not usually participate in hunting, except in the case of larger quarry such as giraffe and buffalo. In typical hunts, each lioness has a favored position in the group, either stalking prey on the "wing" then attacking, or moving a smaller distance in the centre of the group and capturing prey in flight from other lionesses.[76]

.Young lions first display stalking behavior around three months of age, although they do not participate in hunting until they are almost a year old.^They are 4 years old.

Reproduction and life cycle

Most lionesses will have reproduced by the time they are four years of age.[78] Lions do not mate at any specific time of year, and the females are polyestrous.[79] As with other cats, the male lion's penis has spines which point backwards. Upon withdrawal of the penis, the spines rake the walls of the female's vagina, which may cause ovulation.[80].A lioness may mate with more than one male when she is in heat;[81] during a mating bout, which could last several days, the couple copulates twenty to forty times a day and are likely to forgo eating.^She is a stubby Manx and more like a dog than a cat.

During a mating bout, a couple may copulate 20 to 40 times a day for several days

.The average gestation period is around 110 days,[79] the female giving birth to a litter of one to four cubs in a secluded den (which may be a thicket, a reed-bed, a cave or some other sheltered area) usually away from the rest of the pride.^We were at PetSmart buying cat food for our other 2 cats when Putnam Animal Shelter had a one pound bundle of attitude in a cage by himself.

She will often hunt by herself whilst the cubs are still helpless, staying relatively close to the thicket or den where the cubs are kept.[82] The cubs themselves are born blind—their eyes do not open until roughly a week after birth. .They weigh 1.2–2.1 kg (2.6–4.6 lb) at birth and are almost helpless, beginning to crawl a day or two after birth and walking around three weeks of age.^Found them strolling around when I took my dog out for a walk and they followed me home.

[83].The lioness moves her cubs to a new den site several times a month, carrying them one by one by the nape of the neck, to prevent scent from building up at a single den site and thus avoiding the attention of predators that may harm the cubs.^Cuddles published by notquitexena Ariel tripod published by notquitexena arielthepaw_sm published by notquitexena moonlightwalk_sm published by notquitexena sierra_sm published by notquitexena The effects of alcohol after 1 bottle of tequila published by WandaTant OLIVE 11 months published by bel2000a57 Put that nose up here one more time!!!

[84] However, sometimes this introduction to pride life occurs earlier, particularly if other lionesses have given birth at about the same time. For instance, lionesses in a pride often synchronize their reproductive cycles so that they cooperate in the raising and suckling of the young (once the cubs are past the initial stage of isolation with their mother), who suckle indiscriminately from any or all of the nursing females in the pride. In addition to greater protection, the synchronization of births also has an advantage in that the cubs end up being roughly the same size, and thus have an equal chance of survival. If one lioness gives birth to a litter of cubs a couple of months after another lioness, for instance, then the younger cubs, being much smaller than their older brethren, are usually dominated by larger cubs at mealtimes—consequently, death by starvation is more common amongst the younger cubs.

A pregnant lioness (right)

In addition to starvation, cubs also face many other dangers, such as predation by jackals, hyenas, leopards, martial eagles and snakes. .Even buffaloes, should they catch the scent of lion cubs, often stampede towards the thicket or den where they are being kept, doing their best to trample the cubs to death whilst warding off the lioness.^They look oriental and are often very friendly and trustful, even if they live in the streets.

.Furthermore, when one or more new males oust the previous male(s) associated with a pride, the conqueror(s) often kill any existing young cubs,[85] perhaps because females do not become fertile and receptive until their cubs mature or die.^These are the new male and females from our cattery.

All in all, as many as 80 percent of the cubs will die before the age of two.[86]

When first introduced to the rest of the pride, the cubs initially lack confidence when confronted with adult lions other than their mother. However, they soon begin to immerse themselves in the pride life, playing amongst themselves or attempting to initiate play with the adults. .Lionesses with cubs of their own are more likely to be tolerant of another lioness's cubs than lionesses without cubs.^She is a stubby Manx and more like a dog than a cat.

.The tolerance of the male lions towards the cubs varies—sometimes, a male will patiently let the cubs play with his tail or his mane, whereas another may snarl and bat the cubs away.^Tonyaalex3 The cats like to play hide and seek, published by Tonyaalex3 they hide the ornaments in another room, published by Tonyaalex3 and we may even find them in our bathroom sink.

The tolerance of male lions towards the cubs varies. They are, however, generally more likely to share food with the cubs than with the lionesses.

Weaning occurs after six to seven months. Male lions reach maturity at about 3 years of age and, at 4–5 years of age, are capable of challenging and displacing the adult male(s) associated with another pride. They begin to age and weaken between 10 and 15 years of age at the latest,[88] if they have not already been critically injured whilst defending the pride (once ousted from a pride by rival males, male lions rarely manage a second take-over). This leaves a short window for their own offspring to be born and mature. If they are able to procreate as soon as they take over a pride, potentially, they may have more offspring reaching maturity before they also are displaced. A lioness often will attempt to defend her cubs fiercely from a usurping male, but such actions are rarely successful. .He usually kills all of the existing cubs who are less than two years old.^She is two years old and lives in Izmir.

.A lioness is weaker and much lighter than a male; success is more likely when a group of three or four mothers within a pride join forces against one male.^She is a stubby Manx and more like a dog than a cat.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not only males that are ousted from their pride to become nomads, although the majority of females certainly do remain with their birth pride. .However, when the pride becomes too large, the next generation of female cubs may be forced to leave to eke out their own territory.^The first one has already moved out, the others will leave next week.

[90][91] Male lions pair-bond for a number of days and initiate homosexual activity with affectionate nuzzling and caressing, leading to mounting and thrusting. A study found that about 8 percent of mountings have been observed to occur with other males.[citation needed] Female pairings are held to be fairly common in captivity, but have not been observed in the wild.

Health

Though adult lions have no natural predators, evidence suggests that the majority die violently from humans or other lions.[92].This is particularly true of male lions, who, as the main defenders of the pride, are more likely to come into aggressive contact with rival males.^The foster cats who come into our home stay in a big cage until everyone is done hissing and sniffing.

.In fact, even though a male lion may reach an age of 15 or 16 years if he manages to avoid being ousted by other males, the majority of adult males do not live to be more than 10 years old.^Here she is more then 8 years old.

This is why the average lifespan of a male lion tends to be significantly less than that of a lioness in the wild. However, members of both sexes can be injured or even killed by other lions when two prides with overlapping territories come into conflict.

One of the tree climbing Lions of the Serengeti, Tanzania

Various species of tick commonly infest the ears, neck and groin regions of most lions.[93][94] Adult forms of several species of the tapeworm genus Taenia have been isolated from intestines, the lions having ingested larval forms from antelope meat.[95] Lions in the Ngorongoro Crater were afflicted by an outbreak of stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) in 1962; this resulted in lions becoming covered in bloody bare patches and emaciated. Lions sought unsuccessfully to evade the biting flies by climbing trees or crawling into hyena burrows; many perished or emigrated as the population dropped from 70 to 15 individuals.[96] A more recent outbreak in 2001 killed six lions.[97] Lions, especially in captivity, are vulnerable to the Canine distempervirus (CDV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).[19] CDV is spread through domestic dogs and other carnivores; a 1994 outbreak in Serengeti National Park resulted in many lions developing neurological symptoms such as seizures. During the outbreak, several lions died from pneumonia and encephalitis.[98] FIV, which is similar to HIV while not known to adversely affect lions, is worrisome enough in its effect in domestic cats that the Species Survival Plan recommends systematic testing in captive lions. It occurs with high to endemic frequency in several wild lion populations, but is mostly absent from Asiatic and Namibian lions.[19]

Communication

Head rubbing and licking are common social behaviors within a pride

When resting, lion socialization occurs through a number of behaviors, and the animal's expressive movements are highly developed. The most common peaceful tactile gestures are head rubbing and social licking,[99] which have been compared with grooming in primates.[100] Head rubbing—nuzzling one's forehead, face and neck against another lion—appears to be a form of greeting,[101] as it is seen often after an animal has been apart from others, or after a fight or confrontation. Males tend to rub other males, while cubs and females rub females.[102] Social licking often occurs in tandem with head rubbing; it is generally mutual and the recipient appears to express pleasure. The head and neck are the most common parts of the body licked, which may have arisen out of utility, as a lion cannot lick these areas individually.[103]

Lions have an array of facial expressions and body postures that serve as visual gestures.[104] Their repertoire of vocalizations is also large; variations in intensity and pitch, rather than discrete signals, appear central to communication. Lion sounds include snarling, purring, hissing, coughing, miaowing, woofing and roaring. Lions tend to roar in a very characteristic manner, starting with a few deep, long roars that trail off into a series of shorter ones. They most often roar at night; the sound, which can be heard from a distance of 8 kilometres (5.0 mi), is used to advertise the animal's presence.[105] Lions have the loudest roar of any big cat.

Interspecific predatory relationships

In areas where lions and spotted hyenas are sympatric, the two species occupy the same ecological niche, and are thus in direct competition with one another. In some cases, the extent of dietary overlap can be as high as 68.8%.[106] Lions typically ignore spotted hyenas, unless they are on a kill or are being harassed by them. Spotted hyenas themselves tend to visibly react to the presence of lions, whether there is food or not. Lions will readily appropriate the kills of spotted hyenas: in the Ngorongoro crater, it is common for lions to subsist largely on kills stolen from hyenas, causing the hyenas to increase their kill rate. Lions are quick to follow the calls of hyenas feeding, a fact which was proven by Dr. Hans Kruuk, who found that lions repeatedly approached him whenever he played the tape-recorded calls of hyenas feeding.[107] When confronted on a kill by lions, spotted hyenas will either leave or wait patiently at a distance of 30–100 metres until the lions have finished.[108] In some cases, spotted hyenas are bold enough to feed alongside lions, and may occasionally force the lions off a kill. .The two species may act aggressively toward one another even when there is no food involved.^Tonyaalex3 The cats like to play hide and seek, published by Tonyaalex3 they hide the ornaments in another room, published by Tonyaalex3 and we may even find them in our bathroom sink.

Lions may charge at hyenas and maul them for no apparent reason: one male lion was filmed killing two matriarch hyenas on separate occasions without eating them,[109] and lion predation can account for up to 71% of hyena deaths in Etosha. Spotted hyenas have adapted to this pressure by frequently mobbing lions which enter their territories.[110] Experiments on captive spotted hyenas revealed that specimens with no prior experience with lions act indifferently to the sight of them, but will react fearfully to the scent.[107]

Lions tend to dominate smaller felines such as cheetahs and leopards in areas where they are sympatric. They will steal their kills and will kill their cubs and even adults when given the chance. The cheetah has a 50 percent chance of losing its kill to lions or other predators.[111].Lions are major killers of cheetah cubs, up to 90 percent of which are lost in their first weeks of life due to attacks by other predators.^The first one has already moved out, the others will leave next week.

Cheetahs avoid competition by hunting at different times of the day and hide their cubs in thick brush. Leopards also use such tactics, but have the advantage of being able to subsist much better on small prey than either lions or cheetahs. Also, unlike cheetahs, leopards can climb trees and use them to keep their cubs and kills away from lions. However, lionesses will occasionally be successful in climbing to retrieve leopard kills.[112] Similarly, lions dominate African wild dogs, not only taking their kills but also preying on both young and adult dogs (although the latter are rarely caught).[113]

The Nile crocodile is the only sympatric predator (besides humans) that can singly threaten the lion. Depending on the size of the crocodile and the lion, either can lose kills or carrion to the other. Lions have been known to kill crocodiles venturing onto land,[114] while the reverse is true for lions entering waterways containing crocodiles, as evidenced by the fact that lion claws have on occasion been found in crocodile stomachs.[115]

Distribution and habitat

In Africa, lions can be found in savanna grasslands with scattered Acacia trees which serve as shade;[117] their habitat in India is a mixture of dry savanna forest and very dry deciduous scrub forest.[118] In relatively recent times the habitat of lions spanned the southern parts of Eurasia, ranging from Greece to India, and most of Africa except the central rainforest-zone and the Sahara desert. Herodotus reported that lions had been common in Greece around 480 BC; they attacked the baggage camels of the Persian king Xerxes on his march through the country. Aristotle considered them rare by 300 BC. By 100 AD they were extirpated.[119] A population of the Asiatic Lion survived until the tenth century in the Caucasus, their last European outpost.[120]

The species was eradicated from Palestine by the Middle Ages and from most of the rest of Asia after the arrival of readily available firearms in the eighteenth century. Between the late nineteenth and early twentieth century they became extinct in North Africa and Southwest Asia. By the late nineteenth century the lion had disappeared from Turkey and most of northern India,[19][121] while the last sighting of a live Asiatic lion in Iran was in 1941 (between Shiraz and Jahrom, Fars Province), though the corpse of a lioness was found on the banks of Karun river, Khūzestān Province in 1944. There are no subsequent reliable reports from Iran.[73] The subspecies now survives only in and around the Gir Forest of northwestern India.[23] About 300 lions live in a 1,412 km² (558 square miles) sanctuary in the state of Gujarat, which covers most of the forest. Their numbers are slowly increasing.[122]

They were found in most of Africa, much of Eurasia from western Europe to India and the Bering land bridge, and in the Americas from Yukon to Peru.[31] Parts of this range were occupied by subspecies that are extinct today.

Population and conservation status

The Asiatic Lion, whose habitat once ranged from the Mediterranean to north-west Indian subcontinent, is today found only in the Gir Forest of Gujarat, India. Only about 320 Asiatic Lions survive in the wild.[123]

Most lions now live in eastern and southern Africa, and their numbers there are rapidly decreasing, with an estimated 30–50 percent decline over the last two decades.[6] Currently, estimates of the African lion population range between 16,500 and 47,000 living in the wild in 2002–2004,[124][125] down from early 1990s estimates that ranged as high as 100,000 and perhaps 400,000 in 1950. The cause of the decline is not well-understood, and may not be reversible.[6] Currently, habitat loss and conflicts with humans are considered the most significant threats to the species.[126][127] The remaining populations are often geographically isolated from each other, which can lead to inbreeding, and consequently, a lack of genetic diversity. Therefore the lion is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, while the Asiatic subspecies is critically endangered. The lion population in the region of West Africa is isolated from lion populations of Central Africa, with little or no exchange of breeding individuals. The number of mature individuals in West Africa is estimated by two separate recent surveys at 850–1,160 (2002/2004). There is disagreement over the size of the largest individual population in West Africa: the estimates range from 100 to 400 lions in Burkina Faso's Arly-Singou ecosystem.[6]

Following the discovery of the decline of lion population in Africa, several coordinated efforts involving lion conservation have been organised in an attempt to stem this decline. Lions are one species included in the Species Survival Plan, a coordinated attempt by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to increase its chances of survival. The plan was originally started in 1982 for the Asiatic lion, but was suspended when it was found that most Asiatic lions in North American zoos were not genetically pure, having been hybridized with African lions. The African lion plan started in 1993, focusing especially on the South African subspecies, although there are difficulties in assessing the genetic diversity of captive lions, since most individuals are of unknown origin, making maintenance of genetic diversity a problem.[19]

Man-eaters

.While lions do not usually hunt people, some (usually males) seem to seek out human prey; well-publicized cases include the Tsavo maneaters, where 28 railway workers building the Kenya-Uganda Railway were taken by lions over nine months during the construction of a bridge over the Tsavo River in Kenya in 1898, and the 1991 Mfuwe man-eater, which killed six people in the Laungwa River Valley in Zambia.^All about my cats Enjoy this pictures ^_^ Animals published by raiadj Some pictures taken in the park - dogs, cats, people...

[132] In both, the hunters who killed the lions wrote books detailing the animals' predatory behavior. The Mfuwe and Tsavo incidents bear similarities: the lions in both incidents were larger than normal, lacked manes, and seemed to suffer from tooth decay. .The infirmity theory, including tooth decay, is not favored by all researchers; an analysis of teeth and jaws of man-eating lions in museum collections suggests that, while tooth decay may explain some incidents, prey depletion in human-dominated areas is a more likely cause of lion predation on humans.^She moved them when we found her and them to the Ryder truck area More Butters published by lauracox Butters is growin' like a weed!

[133].In their analysis of Tsavo and man-eating generally, Kerbis Peterhans and Gnoske acknowledge that sick or injured animals may be more prone to man-eating, but that the behavior is "not unusual, nor necessarily 'aberrant'" where the opportunity exists; if inducements such as access to livestock or human corpses are present, lions will regularly prey upon human beings.^Ki Ki and Emma published by eddy707 Eat meat B published by eddy707 animals published by feifel85 house zoo and random south africa B&G in May 2007 published by eddy707 Bally and Gucci the Ragdolls!

The authors note that the relationship is well-attested amongst other pantherines and primates in the paleontological record.[134] The lion's proclivity for man-eating has been systematically examined. American and Tanzanian scientists report that man-eating behavior in rural areas of Tanzania increased greatly from 1990 to 2005. At least 563 villagers were attacked and many eaten over this period—a number far exceeding the more famed "Tsavo" incidents of a century earlier. The incidents occurred near Selous National Park in Rufiji District and in Lindi Province near the Mozambican border. While the expansion of villagers into bush country is one concern, the authors argue that conservation policy must mitigate the danger because, in this case, conservation contributes directly to human deaths. Cases in Lindi have been documented where lions seize humans from the center of substantial villages.[135]

.Author Robert R. Frump wrote in The Man-eaters of Eden that Mozambican refugees regularly crossing Kruger National Park at night in South Africa are attacked and eaten by the lions; park officials have conceded that man-eating is a problem there.^Ki Ki and Emma published by eddy707 Eat meat B published by eddy707 animals published by feifel85 house zoo and random south africa B&G in May 2007 published by eddy707 Bally and Gucci the Ragdolls!

Frump believes thousands may have been killed in the decades after apartheid sealed the park and forced the refugees to cross the park at night. For nearly a century before the border was sealed, Mozambicans had regularly walked across the park in daytime with little harm.[136]

.Packer estimates more than 200 Tanzanians are killed each year by lions, crocodiles, elephants, hippos, and snakes, and that the numbers could be double that amount, with lions thought to kill at least 70 of those.^Now she has 14 years old and she's a son for me, I love her more than words can express.

.Packer has documented that between 1990 and 2004, lions attacked 815 people in Tanzania, killing 563. Packer and Ikanda are among the few conservationists who believe western conservation efforts must take account of these matters not just because of ethical concerns about human life, but also for the long term success of conservation efforts and lion preservation.^JossoRose She just comes and goes during the evening so I can't take her face because of the flash in her eyes !!

A man-eating lion was killed by game scouts in Southern Tanzania in April 2004. It is believed to have killed and eaten at least 35 people in a series of incidents covering several villages in the Rufiji Delta coastal region.[137][138] Dr Rolf D. Baldus, the GTZ wildlife programme coordinator, commented that it was likely that the lion preyed on humans because it had a large abscess underneath a molar which was cracked in several places. He further commented that "This lion probably experienced a lot of pain, particularly when it was chewing."[139] GTZ is the German development cooperation agency and has been working with the Tanzanian government on wildlife conservation for nearly two decades. As in other cases this lion was large, lacked a mane, and had a tooth problem.

The "All-Africa" record of man-eating generally is considered to be not Tsavo, but the lesser-known incidents in the late 1930s through the late 1940s in what was then Tanganyika (now Tanzania). George Rushby, game warden and professional hunter, eventually dispatched the pride, which over three generations is thought to have killed and eaten 1,500 to 2,000 in what is now Njombe district.[140]

In captivity

Lion in captivity

.Widely seen in captivity,[141] lions are part of a group of exotic animals that are the core of zoo exhibits since the late eighteenth century; members of this group are invariably large vertebrates and include elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, large primates, and other big cats; zoos sought to gather as many of these species as possible.^Vores Katte published by fieolsen cat published by dutchyseven Kissat published by flyingteam Frank Sinatra published by lovelyreta This is my cat, Frank Sinatra, called so because of his blue eyes (Old Blue Eyes) Carsten's Pets published by wishb These are pictures of my pets and other animals.

[142] Though many modern zoos are more selective about their exhibits,[143] there are over 1000 African and 100 Asiatic lions in zoos and wildlife parks around the world. They are considered an ambassador species and are kept for tourism, education and conservation purposes.[144].Lions can reach an age of over 20 years in captivity; Apollo, a resident lion of Honolulu Zoo in Honolulu, Hawaii, died at age 22 in August 2007. His two sisters, born in 1986, are still living.^Four of them -- born January 20, 2007!

^December 13, 2006 Memorial In 16 wonderful years, not one solitary friend has remained with me other than my beloved companion and best fri Grimalkin - Grey Cat published by ladysail Grimalkin was born on August 9, 2006, and came to live with us at the age of seven weeks.

[145].A zoo-based lion breeding programme usually takes into account the separation of the various lion subspecies, while mitigating the inbreeding that is likely to occur when animals are divided by subspecies.^My Animals published by androidprincesst Here are pictures of my kitties, Missy and Boots and any other animals I felt like taking pictures of.

Seraglios served as expressions of the nobility's power and wealth. .Animals such as big cats and elephants, in particular, symbolized power, and would be pitted in fights against each other or domesticated animals.^Mousse & Catnip published by catalysttx my prefered animals published by canar my cat, my rabbits and others...

By extension, menageries and seraglios served as demonstrations of the dominance of humanity over nature. Consequently, the defeat of such natural "lords" by a cow in 1682 astonished the spectators, and the flight of an elephant before a rhinoceros drew jeers. Such fights would slowly fade out in the seventeenth century with the spread of the menagerie and their appropriation by the commoners. .The tradition of keeping big cats as pets would last into the nineteenth century, at which time it was seen as highly eccentric.^Scampi-The Big Cat published by cruisesh Pets published by costiflorea My kids published by irshwlf Piewackit & Co.

The presence of lions at the Tower of London was intermittent, being restocked when a monarch or his consort, such as Margaret of Anjou the wife of Henry VI, either sought or were given animals. Records indicate they were kept in poor conditions there in the seventeenth century, in contrast to more open conditions in Florence at the time.[155].The menagerie was open to the public by the eighteenth century; admission was a sum of three half-pence or the supply of a cat or dog for feeding to the lions.^Cat published by bubbleooooo2007 Cat My Public Shoebox published by towhook1 The family dogs.

The wild animals trade flourished alongside improved colonial trade of the nineteenth century. Lions were considered fairly common and inexpensive. .Although they would barter higher than tigers, they were less costly than larger, or more difficult to transport animals such as the giraffe and hippopotamus, and much less than pandas.^They don't get any more affectionate than Baby Girl!

[160].Like other animals, lions were seen as little more than a natural, boundless commodity that was mercilessly exploited with terrible losses in capture and transportation.^She is a stubby Manx and more like a dog than a cat.

[161] The widely reproduced imagery of the heroic hunter chasing lions would dominate a large part of the century.[162] Explorers and hunters exploited a popular Manichean division of animals into "good" and "evil" to add thrilling value to their adventures, casting themselves as heroic figures. This resulted in big cats, always suspected of being man-eaters, representing "both the fear of nature and the satisfaction of having overcome it."[163]

Lion at Melbourne Zoo enjoying an elevated grassy area with some tree shelter

Lions were kept in cramped and squalid conditions at London Zoo until a larger lion house with roomier cages was built in the 1870s.[164] Further changes took place in the early twentieth century, when Carl Hagenbeck designed enclosures more closely resembling a natural habitat, with concrete 'rocks', more open space and a moat instead of bars. He designed lion enclosures for both Melbourne Zoo and Sydney's Taronga Zoo, among others, in the early twentieth century. Though his designs were popular, the old bars and cage enclosures prevailed until the 1960s in many zoos.[165].In the later decades of the twentieth century, larger, more natural enclosures and the use of wire mesh or laminated glass instead of lowered dens allowed visitors to come closer than ever to the animals, with some attractions even placing the den on ground higher than visitors, such as the Cat Forest/Lion Overlook of Oklahoma City Zoological Park.^She is a stubby Manx and more like a dog than a cat.

[19] Lions are now housed in much larger naturalistic areas; modern recommended guidelines more closely approximate conditions in the wild with closer attention to the lions' needs, highlighting the need for dens in separate areas, elevated positions in both sun and shade where lions can sit and adequate ground cover and drainage as well as sufficient space to roam.[144]

There have also been instances where a lion was kept by a private individual, such as the lioness Elsa, who was raised by George Adamson and his wife Joy Adamson and came to develop a strong bond with them, particularly the latter. The lioness later achieved fame, her life being documented in a series of books and films.

Records of it exist in ancient times through until the seventeenth century. It was finally banned in Vienna by 1800 and England in 1825.[166][167]

Lion taming refers to the practice of taming lions for entertainment, either as part of an established circus or as an individual act, such as Siegfried & Roy. .The term is also often used for the taming and display of other big cats such as tigers, leopards, and cougars.^Fan She (sweet potato) published by tsuichung My Lovely little Cat Diego Tailchaser published by lissylou214 Photos of my big kitty tiger published by kenix619 Cat My Kittens!

The practice was pioneered in the first half of the nineteenth century by Frenchman Henri Martin and American Isaac Van Amburgh who both toured widely, and whose techniques were copied by a number of followers.[168] Van Amburgh performed before Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom in 1838 when he toured Great Britain. Martin composed a pantomime titled Les Lions de Mysore ("the lions of Mysore"), an idea that Amburgh quickly borrowed. These acts eclipsed equestrianism acts as the central display of circus shows, but truly entered public consciousness in the early twentieth century with cinema. In demonstrating the superiority of human over animal, lion taming served a purpose similar to animal fights of previous centuries.[168] The now iconic lion tamer's chair was possibly first used by American Clyde Beatty (1903–1965).[169]

The lion has been an icon for humanity for thousands of years, appearing in cultures across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Despite incidents of attacks on humans, lions have enjoyed a positive depiction in culture as strong but noble. A common depiction is their representation as "king of the jungle" or "king of the beasts"; hence, the lion has been a popular symbol of royalty and stateliness,[170] as well as a symbol of bravery; it is featured in several fables of the sixth century BCGreek storyteller Aesop.[171]

.Representations of lions date back 32,000 years; the lion-headed ivory carving from Vogelherd cave in the Swabian Alb in southwestern Germany has been determined to be about 32,000 years old from the Aurignacian culture.^He is about a year old.

[16] Two lions were depicted mating in the Chamber of Felines in 15,000-year-old Paleolithiccave paintings in the Lascaux caves. Cave lions are also depicted in the Chauvet Cave, discovered in 1994; this has been dated at 32,000 years of age,[27] though it may be of similar or younger age to Lascaux.[172]

Careful examination of the lion deities noted in many ancient cultures reveal that many are lioness also. Admiration for the co-operative hunting strategies of lionesses was evident in very ancient times. Most of the lion gates depict lionesses. The Nemean lion was symbolic in Ancient Greece and Rome, represented as the constellation and zodiac sign Leo, and described in mythology, where its skin was borne by the hero Heracles.[175]

The lion is the biblical emblem of the tribe of Judah and later the Kingdom of Judah. It is contained within Jacob's blessing to his fourth son in the penultimate chapter of the Book of Genesis, "Judah is a lion's whelp; On prey, my son have you grown. He crouches, lies down like a lion, like the king of beasts—who dare rouse him?" (Genesis 49:9[176]). In the modern state of Israel, the lion remains the symbol of the capital city of Jerusalem, emblazoned on both the flag and coat of arms of the city.

The lion was a prominent symbol in ancient Mesopotamia (from Sumer up to Assyrian and Babylonian times), where it was strongly associated with kingship.[177] The classic Babylonian lion motif, found as a statue, carved or painted on walls, is often referred to as the striding lion of Babylon. It is in Babylon that the biblical Daniel is said to have been delivered from the lion's den.[178] Such symbolism was appropriated by Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq for their Lion of Babylon tank, with the technology adapted from a Russian model.

In the Puranic texts of Hinduism, Narasimha ("man-lion") a half-lion, half-man incarnation or (avatara) of Vishnu, is worshipped by his devotees and saved the child devotee Prahlada from his father, the evil demon king Hiranyakashipu;[179] Vishnu takes the form of half-man/half-lion, in Narasimha, having a human torso and lower body, but with a lion-like face and claws.[180] Narasimha is worshiped as "Lion God."

The Asiatic lion is a common motif in Chinese art. They were first used in art during the late Spring and Autumn Period (fifth or sixth century BC), and became much more popular during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – AD 220), when imperial guardian lions started to be placed in front of imperial palaces for protection. Because lions have never been native to China, early depictions were somewhat unrealistic; after the introduction of Buddhist art to China in the Tang Dynasty (after the sixth century AD), lions were usually depicted without wings, their bodies became thicker and shorter, and their manes became curly.[186] The lion dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume, often with musical accompaniment from cymbals, drums and gongs. .They are performed at Chinese New Year, the August Moon Festival and other celebratory occasions for good luck.^Pets from June 19th - August 5th published by heatherwanderer Pics of my new kitten as well as any other pets that will sit still long enough for me to photograph...lol Stinker the Cat published by ritae22 Stinker enjoying his years !

The island nation of Singapore (Singapura) derives its name from the Malay words singa (lion) and pura (city), which in turn is from the Tamil-Sanskrit சிங்க singaसिंहsiṃha and पुर புர pura, which is cognate to the Greekπόλις, pólis.[188] According to the Malay Annals, this name was given by a fourteenth century Sumatran Malay prince named Sang Nila Utama, who, on alighting the island after a thunderstorm, spotted an auspicious beast on shore that his chief minister identified as a lion (Asiatic lion).[189]

^Turner, Allen (1997). The big cats and their fossil relatives : an illustrated guide to their evolution and natural history. New York: .Columbia University Press.^Nei M., 1987 Molecular evolutionary genetics Columbia University Press, New York .

Proper
noun

Anagrams

From BibleWiki

—Biblical Data:

There are several names for the lion in the Old Testament (comp.
Job4:10ff): "aryeh," or "ari," which
is the most general name; "labi'" and "lebiyah," for the old lion
and lioness; "kefir" and "gur," for the young, strong lion and
whelp respectively; while "layish" and "shaḥal" occur in more
poetic diction.

The lion is one of the most frequently mentioned animals in the
Bible, which would indicate its former abundance in Palestine. .Its
favorite haunts were the bushy environments of the Jordan (Jer49:19, Jer50:44; Zech11:3), caves and thickets
(Jer4:7, Jer25:38; Ps109,
Ps1712), in general the woods (Jer12:8; Amos3:8) and the desert (Isa30:6).^By http://astym.fr/noxeqy/291.php?d=74 on November 25, 2009 at 12:17 pm usda byproducts in food… .

Many habits of the lion are incidentally mentioned in the Old
Testament. The male assists in the rearing and training of the
young (Ezek19:2; Nah2:13); it lies in wait in
secret places (Deut33:22; Lam3:10); growls over its
prey (Isa31:4); breaks the bones of its
victims (Isa38:13), and carries them to
its lair (Gen49:9). It not only was the
terror of flocks (Mic5:8), but also attacked men (1 Kg13:24, 1 Kg20:36; 2Kg17:25). It was, however,
fought by shepherds with sling and staff (1Sam17:34; Amos3:12), and was sometimes killed
by daring men (Jdg14:5; 2 Sam23:20). From Ezek19:4, Ezek19:8 it may be inferred that
the usual manner of catching the animal alive was by pit and net.
The custom of Oriental kings of throwing those fallen into disgrace
to lions which were kept in dens, is illustrated in Dan6:8ff.

As an element of decorative art the figure of the lion entered
into the design of the brazen Laver in the Temple of
Solomon and of Solomon's throne (1 Kg7:29, 1 Kg10:20, and parallels).

—In Rabbinical
Literature:

The Talmud states six names of the lion, namely: "aryeh,"
"kefir," "labi'," "layish," "shaḥal," and "shaḥaf" (Sanh. 95a; Ab.
R. N. xxxix., end). The most general terms, however, are "are,"
"arya'" (B. Ḳ. 4a), and "aryeh"; for the lioness, "lebiyah" (B. Ḳ.
16b), "guryata" (Shab. 67a), and "kalba" (Yalḳ. ii. 721); and for
the young lion, "gurya"(Sanh. 64a). In Ḥul. 59b an animal called
"ṭigris" is defined as "the lion of Be-'Ilai" ( (image) ). By
"Be-'Ilai" is probably meant a mountain height or mountain forest,
perhaps specially the Lebanon (comp. "bala," ib. 80a, and
see Goat); and if by "ṭigris" the tiger is meant, it would appear
that the Talmudical writers did not know this animal from personal
observation, and it was therefore endowed by them with fabulous
proportions and qualities. Thus it is said in the same passages
that the distance between the lobes of its lungs was nine cubits,
and that its roar at a distance of 400 parasangs brought down the
walls of Rome. Kohut ("Ueber die Jüdische Angelologie und
Dämonologie," etc., p. 103; comp. also idem, "Aruch
Completum," iv. 15) surmises that "ṭigris" is the Persian
"thrigaṭ," i.e., the mythical three-legged animal (comp.
also Schorr in "He-Ḥaluẓ," vii. 32).

The lion is often enumerated among the dangerous animals (B. Ḳ.
15b and parallels). It is especially dangerous in rutting-time
(Sanh. 106a). It begins to devour its prey alive (Pes. 49b),
carrying part of it to the lair for the lioness and the whelps (B.
Ḳ. 16b; Sanh. 90b). Sometimes, however, the lion will stay among
flocks without injuring them (Ḥul. 53a); it attacks man only when
driven by hunger (Yeb. 121b), and never two men when they are
together (Shab. 151b). Though the lion can be tamed (Sanh. 15b;
comp. the expression "ari tarbut," B. Ḳ. 16b), it is, on account of
its dangerousness, kept in a cage (Shab. 106b), and when so
confined is fed with the flesh of wild asses (Men. 103b). It is
forbidden to sell lions to the pagans because the latter use them
in their circuses ('Ab. Zarah 16a). In passing a lion's den ("gob")
one should recite a benediction of thanksgiving in memory of the
miracle which happened to Daniel when he was thrown into such a den
(Ber. 57b). The term of gestation of the lion is three years (Bek.
8a). Its tormentor is the "mafgia'," or little Ethiopian gnat
(Shab. 77b). For the medicinal use of the milk of the lioness see
Yalḳ. 721.

The Talmud makes about the same figurative use of the lion as
does the Old Testament. The lion is the king of animals (Ḥag. 13b)
and the symbol of true mental greatness; and in this regard it is
contrasted with the fox (Shab. 111b; Ab. iv. 15; Giṭ. 83b); it is
the type of strength and awe (Pes. 112a; Shebu. 22b; B. Ḳ. 85a).
The sound of God's voice is likened to the roaring of the lion
(Ber. 3a, b). The name of the lion is applied to God, Israel, and
the Temple (comp. Isa29:1: "ariel"; Pesiḳ. R. 28
[ed. Friedmann, p. 133] and parallels). The lion also symbolizes
the mighty spirit of temptation and seduction to idolatry (Sanh.
64a; comp. 1
Pet5:8). The Temple of Ezekiel is
compared to the lion in its structure, both being broad in front
and narrow behind (Mid. iv. 7). The lion is also the fifth sign
("Leo") of the zodiac, corresponding to the fifth month, Ab (Pesiḳ.
R. l.c.; Yalḳ., Ex. 418).

The lion (Panthera leo) is a large mammal of the Felidae (cat) family, and is often called the "king of the jungle". Lions are mostly found in Africa and in a small reserve in India. They can live in cool areas, very hot areas or in thick forests. In the past, there were wild lions in Europe. Today, many live in zoos around the world. In the past they have lived in Northern India, Pakistan, and Arabia. Lions are also used as symbols representing courage. They appear in heraldry more often than any other animal. They are considered the king of beasts and the icon of courage and royalty.

Lions live for 10 to 14 years when they are in the wild. When they are captured, they can live longer than 20 years. In the wild, males do not usually live longer than 10 years. This is because wounds from fighting with other males make their lives shorter.[3] They usually live in savanna and grassland, though they sometimes live in bushes and forests. Compared to other cats, lions are very social. In a pride of lions, there are related females, their young, and a small number of adult males. Groups of female lions often hunt together.

About Lions

The lion is the second largest member of the cat family that lives in Africa. It hunts many animals and humans, for example, gnus and antelopes, and eats a lot of meat. Male lions usually weigh 159 to 180 kilograms (350 to 400 pounds), but they can weigh more. It is the only cat with a mane.

Lions live in groups that are called prides. Ten to forty lions may live in a pride. Each pride has a home area that is called its territory. Lions do not allow other carnivores (meat eating animals) to hunt in their territory. A territory can be as large as 260 square kilometres (100 square miles). Lions sometimes live for over 20 years in captivity.

A lioness is a female lion. The female lions hunt the animals for the prides.
At hunting lions are not built for speed like cheetas but are for stealth.
They are ready to have young when she is 2-3 years old. Baby lions are called cubs. Cubs are born after 3 1/2 months. Lions do not have a den (home) where they would live for a long time. The lioness conceals the cubs in thick bush, gullies or rocky outcrops. If the hiding place has been seen by other predators, then the lioness will move the cubs to a new hiding place. The cubs will be introduced to the pride at about 6 weeks old. The cubs are very vulnerable when the lioness goes out to hunt and needs to leave the cubs behind. A litter of 2-6, usually 2-3, cubs are born and most of the time only 1-2 cubs survives until introduced to the pride where they have the protection of the whole pride. In zoos lion's have known to breed with tigers and it's called a liger or tigon.

There are approximately 30,000 African lions left in the wild and only 350 Asian lions left in the Gir Forest in the state of Gujarat, India.

Lions in heraldry

Lions appear in heraldry more often than any other animal. They may appear as a charge on the shield or as a crest. They are described in the blazon (heraldic description) by their tincture (color) and attitude (position). Sometimes the teeth and claws of a lion can be colored differently from the rest of its body; it is said to be "armed" of that color (e.g. "A lion Or armed gules" is a gold lion with red teeth and claws). Sometimes the tail is even described, if it is shown in an unusual way. One reason why lions are shown in so many different ways is because when heraldry developed, a lot of people wanted a lion on their coat of arms, but no two coats of arms can be the same. The purpose of heraldry in the Middle Ages was to identify people with bold images over the outside of their armour. Since a lot of people started putting lions on their coats of arms, they placed them in a lot of different positions and in every color used in heraldry. In France and Germany, they even made patterns of colors[4] on some of their lions, as if they were painted. Although there are many attitudes or positions now used in heraldry, very few of these were known to medieval heralds, who simply wanted to draw a lion to fill the space provided on the shield.[5] French heralds refer to lions in the walking positions as leopards, but this term is seldom used by British heralds.[5] The following table describes the different attitudes of heraldic lions:

A "lion rampant" is shown in profile (seen from the left side) standing upright with forepaws raised.[6] The position of the hind legs varies according to local custom: the lion may stand with both hind legs braced wide apart, or on only one, with the other also raised to strike. The word rampant is often left out of the description, especially in medieval heraldry, because this is the most usual position of beasts that hunt.

Note: the term segreant means the same position, but is only used for winged beasts (i.e.griffins and dragons).[7]

A "lion salient" is leaping, with both hind legs together on the ground and both forelegs together in the air.[10] This is a very rare position for a lion,[10] but is also used of other heraldic beasts.

A "lion dormant" is lying down with its eyes closed and head lowered, resting upon the forepaws, as if asleep.[12]

Other terms are used to describe the lion's position in further detail. The lion's head is normally seen in agreement with the overall position, (facing left) unless otherwise stated. If a lion's whole body is turned to face right, he is to sinister or contourné. If his whole body faces the viewer, he is affronté. If his head only faces the viewer he is guardant or gardant, and if he looks back over his shoulder (body facing left but head turned to face right) he is regardant. These words follow the main description of position, and then the lion is further described as armed (teeth and claws) of another color, if another color is used. And finally, the tail may be described if it is unusual. A lion (or other beast) coward carries its tail between its hind legs.[13] The tail also may be nowed (knotted), or the lion may be queue fourchée (forked tail) or double-queued (two tails).